Method for allocating resources by anticipated reservation in an integrated service satellite network

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a method for allocating a resource in a periodic frame of an asynchronous digital satellite network, to each of cell bursts of sporadic connections which are transmitted by earth stations. Allocation requests for resources, such as a time intervals in a data sub-frame of a frame, are respectively transmitted by an earth station to a central network management station, from beginnings of reception of the bursts and therefore well before the earth station has completely received said bursts coming from an user station. Each of the resource allocation requests relating to the bursts of a connection is satisfied since the request does not comprise any information on lengths of bursts. Thus, during a connection phase, acceptance or refusal of a connection request is decided as a function of an algorithm avoiding overloading of the network and slumping of its performances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in a general manner to the resource control for satellite telecommunication networks using the asynchronous time-division technique ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode).

2. Description of the Prior Art

After the introduction of the services offered by the "narrow-band" integrated service digital networks, the network designers sensed the need to produce a more efficient network in the medium-term. This need was based on the following considerations: a "narrow-band" digital network does not enable complete integration of the existing or "futuristic" telecommunication services. The existing digital networks do not fully satisfy needs as regards data communications with very high bit rate, services generating a traffic flow of a highly sporadical nature, or in the long-term, video communications. The asynchronous time-division technique ATM was thus advocated to meet three requirements: digital technology, high bit rate, and flexibility in the routing of the different types of communications.

An international strategy for the development of "wide-band" integrated service digital networks (WB-ISDN), defined by the CCITT, is based on three fundamental principles:

an information transfer unit, called "cell", or also "packet", which is the basic element processed by all means constituting the network: terminals, multiplexers and switches. An ATM cell typically comprises 53 bytes, 48 being allocated to the transmission of information and 5 to the routing of the cell in the network,

an asynchronous processing of the cells by the various means in the network, and

a connection-oriented technique: a communication must be set up prior to all transfers of information. The mode selected is the "virtual-circuit" mode for the transmission of the cells throught the nodes of the network, of a type comparable to X.25 networks.

The conventional networks using the circuit mode, which is the main component of the "narrow-band" integrated service digital network, solve all of their resource control problems at admission of calls in the network: once a call has been set up, a fixed bit rate resource is reserved for a user. The circuit mode would not of course suit the WB-ISDN network for obvious reasons of under-utilization of the transmission means due to the highly sporadic nature of certain communications.

Conversely, the ATM technique is based upon packet mode communications and therefore on operation in queues. Nevertheless, contrary to the techniques usually used for congestion control in conventional packet networks, an oversizing of the network or a step-by-step control of the traffic between nodes of the network is inconceivable for a wide-band network in which the bit rates can reach a hundred Mb/s. The control mechanisms substantially penalize the transmission times and prove inefficient. A solution consists in posing the problem backwards: if the congestion of the network cannot be controlled (deterioration of transmission times), it must be avoided by means of resource allocating mechanisms when accesses to the network are requested. But this prior condition imposes evaluation of the resource to be reserved as a function of the service: it is as easy to determine a resource to be reserved for a request for a constant or variable bit rate service, as it is difficult to define a resource to be reserved for highly-sporadicalness services.

When a source-user transmits a connection request, the request must contain the address of the destination but also the capacity required to route a traffic associated with the request. This request is routed within the network, from one node to another, according to routes determined by a routing algorithm. The call is accepted if there exists at least one route between the source-user and the destination such that each internodal link of said route has sufficient capacity to satisfy the transmission capacity required by the user. The problem has been stated: what bit rate capacity has to be required to route traffics having highly sporadic flows?

The complete generalization of the capacity of the network makes it difficult to provide an answer, insofar as the connections interact with one another.

Modification of the existing telephone network infrastructure to produce a wide-band digital network cannot be envisaged in the medium-term. These reasons are notably based on financial considerations, the means to be implemented to install a terrestrial wide-band digital network being considerable. In order to get around this limitation, a more flexible and less costly natural solution consists in using satellite wide-band networks. Nevertheless, the problem of resource control remains set in equivalent terms, in this case for access to a satellite channel.

The time-division share of a satellite channel between plural stations has been mainly envisaged according to two techniques:

the random technique aimed at generalizing the resources but consequently entailing fluctuations in the cell transmission delay far in excess of the limits specified for conversational services such as the telephone service, and

the access-by-reservation technique.

According to the latter technique, contrary to the random access technique in which a connection implicitly entails a "creation" of a time interval by synchronization, frames are periodically allocated to the communications. A frame format based on the TDMA principle and used in the TDMA-reservation protocol is shown in FIG. 2. A frame T_(r) is divided into a data sub-frame STD_(r) and a signalling sub-frame STS_(r). The sub-frames STD_(r) and STS_(r) are respectively allocated to the transmission of data and the transmission of resource allocation request/response messages.

According to certain embodiments, the sub-frame STS_(r) has a length that is variable as a function of the bit rate. For an earth station ST_(i) sending a resource allocation request, the TDMA reservation protocol consist in the transmission of a reservation message in an assigned interval ITS_(i) of a signalling sub-frame STS_(r) after complete reception of a burst of cells generated by a service of a sporadic nature of a user station. A central station SC, receiving all the reservation messages coming from earth stations, allocates the required capacity to the earth station ST_(i) when sufficient transmission capacity is available. This TDMA-reservation protocol advantageously informs the central station SC by means of the signalling sub-frame STS_(r) with regard to a precise allocation request since the earth station only forwards its request after complete reception of the burst, and therefore after taking the length of the latter into account. Nevertheless, this "store and forward" management which consists in storing the whole burst of cells before processing an allocation request, is not satisfactory for services introducing very long bursts since such a management induces transmission delays which are unacceptable for certain services (interrogation of image data bases).

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The main object of this invention is to remedy the preceding disadvantages. Another object of this invention is to provide a method for reducing the time required to allocate a resource, by transmitting a resource allocation request in the signalling sub-frame for a burst of a sporadic connection well before this burst has been completely received by the earth station. For each burst of the connection, a resource allocation request is then transmitted by an earth station to the central station prior to complete reception in the earth station of said burst. As no information on the lengths of the bursts of the connection can then be transmitted respectively in the allocation requests, another object of this invention is to provide an algorithm selectively enabling the setting up of a connection to be accepted or refused. After acceptance of the connection, the resource allocation requests relating to the bursts of this connection are then successively satisfied, irrespective of traffic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a method for allocating resources to earth stations by a central station in a satellite asynchronous time-division telecommunication network, the earth stations receiving bursts of data cells transmitted by user stations during respective sporadic connections, said bursts being transmitted in a data sub-frame of a time-division multiple access periodic frame, a sporadic connection being defined by an average length of the bursts to be transmitted during said connection, a sporadicness and a maximum bit rate, an earth station having completely received a burst transmitting an end message which includes the length of the burst, in a signalling sub-frame of the periodic frame to the central station so as to release a resource allocated to the burst in the data sub-frame when the whole burst has been transmitted by the earth station, is characterized by

the decision to accept or refuse a given sporadic connection to be set up subsequent to a sporadic connection request in the signalling sub-frame by an earth station, the decision being determined as a function of an algorithm in which the average lengths of the bursts and sporadicnesses are considered as predetermined constants and which depends on maximum bit rates and average bit rates of the connections in process and of said given connection, the maximum bit rate and said average bit rate relating to said given sporadic connection being included in the connection request,

subsequent to acceptance of the sporadic connection request, the transmission of a resource allocation request in the signalling sub-frame from the earth station to the central station in response to the beginning of the reception and storing of each of the bursts of the given connection in the earth station, and

the anticipated reservation of a resource in the form of a time interval in the data sub-frame for the burst by the central station as soon as a time interval of the data sub-frame is released so that the earth station can begin transmitting the burst while continuing to store the burst.

According to a feature of the invention, the algorithm consists, for said sporadic connection request, in computing an equivalent load ratio RA_(eq) for the bursty connections in process and for said given connection as a function notably of said constants and of the maximum bit rates of the sporadic connections, in computing the sum of the average bit rates of the sporadic connections, in computing the product of said sum by said equivalent load ratio, and in accepting the connection request when said product is lower than a total capacity available for the bursty connections.

The invention also provides for connections with constant bit rate to be set up between the user stations in the network. The algorithm for a constant bit rate connection then consists in subtracting the constant bit rate from the total available capacity thereby establishing a second capacity available for the sporadic connections, in computing said product for sporadic connections in process, and in accepting the constant bit rate connection request when said product is lower than the second available capacity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent more clearly from the reading of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the corresponding accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B respectively show a satellite wide-band network and a time chart of a sporadic communication in this network;

FIG. 2 shows a frame format used in the TDMA reservation protocol according to the prior art and using the TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) mode;

FIG. 3 is a state diagram according to the TDMA reservation protocol;

FIG. 4 is a state diagram of the resource allocation method embodying the invention;

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are time charts of signal exchanges for the purposes of comparison between the TDMA reservation protocol and the method embodying the invention;

FIG. 6 is a chart of the distribution of traffic in a wide-band digital network;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are diagrams for an elaboration of an acceptance/refusal algorithm of a connection for carrying out the method embodying the invention;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are diagrams for explaining parameter equivalences according to the method embodying the invention;

FIG. 12 shows the connection acceptance/refusal algorithm according to the invention; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of a connection refusal/acceptance automaton for carrying out the algorithm embodying to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In a first part of the description hereinunder, the interest of the method embodying the invention is presented comparatively to the known TDMA reservation protocol concerning the emission by each earth station of a resource allocation request for each received burst. This comparison could be extended to any type of known protocol using a resource reservation mode which is not anticipated.

A second part of the description deals with an algorithm according to the invention, carried out in a central station and enabling determination of whether or not a connection request should be accepted. Indeed, according to the invention, resource allocation requests for the bursts transmitted during a connection are independent of the features of said bursts and must therefore be satisfied.

A particular embodiment of the invention is described in the following part of the description and concerns a two-beam satellite network architecture. It will naturally be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be introduced within the scope of the invention. For instance, the invention can apply to a single-beam architecture or an architecture comprising any number of satellite network beams.

FIG. 1A schematically shows a two-beam wide-band digital network architecture. The network sets up communications between a group of first user stations SU₁, . . . SU_(i), . . . SU_(I) in a first beam A, and a group of second user stations in a second beam B (not shown) via a satellite, e.g. in the context of intercontinental communications. The wording "user station" arbitrarily designates a user station or terminal, or a local area network to which a plurality of user stations is connected. The user stations SU_(i), i being an integer lying between 1 and I, are connected to respective earth stations ST_(i), via user interfaces IU_(i).

The earth stations further performs modulation and encoding functions on the information transmitted from the different user stations for retransmission to satellite SA. A management central station SC ensures instantaneous management of the common resource: at least one carrier frequency satellite channel, the monitoring and controlling of the different earth stations ST₁ a ST_(I), and the setting up and release of the connections as will be seen hereinafter. In beam B (not shown), a control station performs a function referred to as "echo" function; this "echo" function consists mainly in retransmitting to the opposite beam, in this instance beam A, the signalling sub-frame received from this opposite beam into TDMA-format frames. Notably, this "echo" function contributes to the retransmission of connection request messages and resource allocation request messages, transmitted by the earth stations in the signalling sub-frame, to the satellite station SC, which ensures connection acceptance decisions. As previously stated, the wide-band digital technique prohibits a control of the flows between links by conventional methods. Resource allocation mechanisms must be carried out precisely before an access to the resources. It is the role of the central station SC to manage all the connection requests made by the earth stations ST_(i) for satisfying the resource allocation mechanism embodying the invention.

Subsequent to acceptance of a connection by the central station SC to an earth station ST_(i), bursts of the connection are transmitted between the earth station ST_(i) and any other station of beam B via the satellite SA.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the different sporadic services integrated in the different user stations of the "wide-band" digital network generate, during respective connections, messages with variable lengths T (line a), the lengths being expressed in numbers of bits. The messages transit in the network in the form of ATM cells (line b) previously defined. These different digital services constitute sporadic traffic sources which are characterized by relatively long time intervals IT between successive messages of which the bits are generated at a maximal bit rate D_(max). The following three parameters define the traffic of a source:

the average bit rate of message generation D_(moy) =T_(m) /IT_(m), where T_(m) and IT_(m) denote the average length of a message and the average interval separating two messages,

the sporadicness SP of the service of the source SP=D_(max) /D_(moy), and

the average length of the bursts expressed in numbers of cells.

As shown on line b of FIG. 1B, the different messages generated by a digital service (line a) are transmitted in the digital network in the form of ATM cells according to the established standard. The word "burst" used hereinafter designates a set of cells in ATM format resulting from the segmentation of a service message with sporadic nature into cells transmitted at the rate of the network DR greater than D_(max).

For the purposes of simplification, only methods (or protocols) for allocating resources to earth stations ST₁, . . . ST_(i), . . . ST_(I) by the central station SC are described, without taking into account all the functions defined in the reference model of the ATM protocol, such as segmentation of messages into bursts, alignment of the cells transmitted by the various user stations of a group and received by the respective earth stations of this group, modulation, etc. The methods (or protocols) defined throughout the description must therefore be considered as "layers" in a more general model of interconnection via satellite.

The connections set up between the earth stations of the two beams are of two types as a function of the nature of the services:

constant rate connections corresponding to "circuit-mode" communications and thus characterized by "continuous" streams of ATM cells, and

connections of a sporadic nature defined by cell streams spaced by relatively long time intervals.

In reference to FIG. 3, a diagram of states E1 to E5 for an earth station ST_(i) setting up connections via the satellite SA throughout the central station SC, relates to the TDMA-reservation protocol, a protocol for allocating resources burst by burst. This known protocol is used for dynamic allocation of resources by the central station SC to the various earth stations in order to set up communications via the satellite SA. In addition, the central station SC manages the resource allocations attributed to the various earth stations ST_(i) for connections to be set up via the satellite SA.

In a first state E1, the earth station ST_(i) is awaiting a burst. As previously stated, this means the station ST_(i) is awaiting reception of a message burst produced by one of the sporadic connections set up by this station ST_(i) (FIG. 1A). Once the beginning of the burst is detected, the earth station ST_(i) is in a second state E2 for storing the burst. This storing is carried out according to the "store and forward" mechanism, meaning that no action is undertaken by the earth station ST_(i) before the burst is completely stored. After detection of the end of the burst, the earth station ST_(i) computes the length of the burst LR expressed in numbers of cells received (state E3), the cells having a constant length expressed in number of bits. After computation of the length of the burst, corresponding to a given resource needed by the earth station ST_(i) for transmitting the burst via the satellite SA, the station ST_(i) is awaiting a signalling time interval ITS_(i) which is attributed to it in the TDMA-format frame shown in FIG. 2 (state E4).

In a reservation message MR_(i) transmitted in the time interval ITS_(i) attributed to it, the earth station ST_(i) transmits a resource reservation request accompanied by an information concerning the length of the burst LR to be transmitted. A resource allocation device in the central station SC receives the reservation message MR_(i) by echo retransmission from a terminal of beam B. This allocation device manages different reservation requests transmitted by means of respective reservation messages MR₁, . . . MR_(I) by the different earth stations ST₁, . . . ST_(I) so as to allocate resources. Subsequent to reception by the central station SC of the reservation message MR_(i) transmitted by the earth station ST_(i), the allocation device of the central station SC attributes resources to the earth station ST_(i) upon expiry of a waiting time Ta which is a function of the network traffic. This attribution of resources corresponds to an allocation of a time interval IT_(i) in a data sub-frame STD_(i) to the earth station ST_(i) by the central station SC. The length of the time interval IT_(i) assigned to the earth station ST_(i) is directly proportional to the length of the burst transmitted in the reservation message MR_(i). Thus, for a duration which is a function of the length LR of the burst, a resource (state E5) is attributed to the earth station ST_(i) so that the latter transmits the whole burst received, in the form of ATM cells. At the end of transmission of the burst by the earth station ST_(i) corresponding to a release of resources, or of a time interval IT_(i) by the central station SC, the station ST_(i) returns to the first state E1 awaiting the next burst.

The drawbacks of using the TDMA reservation protocol in a wide-band digital network result from two antagonistic considerations for transmissions of bursts of long duration:

the "response times" of the network must be very short to provide users with a good level of quality of services in fields as varied as image, real-time interrogation of data bases, etc.

the asynchronous time-division technique is primarily a packet-mode technique based on queue management.

However, as shown in the state diagram in FIG. 3, a resource allocation request from an earth station ST_(i) to the central station SC by means of a reservation message MR_(i) is only made subsequent to complete storing of the burst, for a transmission of this burst to the destination earth station. The resource allocation device in the central station SC therefore only receives the reservation message subsequent to a delay T₁ such that T₁ =TR+2T_(t), where TR is the duration of the burst and 2T_(t) is the time of forward and return transmission of the reservation message between the earth station ST_(i) and the central station SC (ground-satellite-ground-satellite-ground). The reservation message is then stored in a FIFO queue of the allocation device of the central station SC thereby processing the message after a waiting time Ta. In this way, a resource, i.e., in practice a time interval IT_(i) of a data sub-frame STD_(j), is only attributed to the earth station ST_(i) by the central station SC upon expiry of a duration T₂ such that T₂ =TR+2T_(t) +Ta.

The "forward and return" transmission time 2T_(t) and the waiting time Ta are difficult to modify since they depend on intrinsic features of the network according to the embodiment selected (capacity, lines, layout). Conversely, the duration of the burst TR induces critical delays when the burst or the message from which it comes, is of long duration (image services).

The method embodying the invention aims mainly to reduce resource allocation delays, as indicated in the diagram of states ET1, ET2-ET2', ET3'-ET3 and ET4 shown in FIG. 4. Initially in a first state ET1, the earth station ST_(i) is awaiting a burst. Upon detection of the beginning of a burst generated during a connection set up by the earth station ST_(i), i.e., of a first cell in the burst, the earth station ST_(i) moves to a second state ET2 to begin storing the burst. However, contrary to the TDMA reservation protocol, in this storing state ET2, the earth station ST_(i) is awaiting a signalling time interval ITS_(i) which is specific to it in the signalling sub-frames STS_(r). Upon detection of a time interval ITS_(i) following the start of storage of the burst, the earth station ST_(i) transmits in the latter an allocation request message MD_(i) towards the central station SC (state ET2'). This allocation request message MD_(i) received by the central station SC is stored in a FIFO memory of the resource allocation device. All the messages MD₁ to MD_(I) coming from the earth stations ST₁ to ST_(I) and relating to resource allocation requests are thus processed according to their order of arrival by the allocation device; this device successively processes the different resource allocation requests stored in the queue and attributes resources, materialized by periodic time intervals IT_(i) to the various corresponding remote earth stations as a function of the available resource capacity.

In this way, contrary to the TDMA reservation protocol in which a reservation message MR_(i) is only transmitted by an earth station ST_(i) subsequent to complete reception of a burst, the method embodying the invention provides transmission of an allocation request message MD_(i) by the earth station ST_(i) to the central station SC immediately upon detection of the beginning of the burst.

After detection of a time interval IT_(i) in the data sub-frame assigned to the earth station ST_(i) by the central station SC, subsequent to processing of the allocation request message MD_(i), the earth station ST_(i) begins transmission of the burst in the interval IT_(i). After complete storing of a burst, the earth station ST_(i) computes, in state ET3, the length LR or duration TR of the burst stored. An information concerning the length of the burst is then transmitted in an end message MF_(i) from the earth station ST_(i) to the central station SC after detection of a signalling time interval ITS_(i) as indicated in state ET4 of FIG. 4. The end message MF_(i) notably enables the central station SC to be informed about the length of the burst so as to release the assigned interval IT_(i) when the whole burst has been transmitted by the earth station via the satellite.

To compare the performances of the method embodying the invention with regard to the known TDMA reservation protocol, reference is made to FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C which schematically illustrate exchanges of signals during a communication or connection being set up between an earth station ST_(i) and the central station SC and consisting in transmission of a burst.

FIG. 5A shows lengths LR of bursts transmitted as a function of the time t. Initial instants t_(i) and final instants t_(f) delimit in an earth station ST_(i) the storing of a burst transmitted by a user station at a bit rate D_(max). Instants t'_(i) and t'_(f) and instants t"_(i) and t"_(f) temporally delimit the transmission of the burst from the earth station ST_(i) to any station of beam B by respectively using the method embodying the invention and the TDMA-reservation protocol.

FIGS. 5B and 5C schematically show transmission phases of a burst between the earth station ST_(i) and the central station SC respectively according to the above-mentioned protocol and according to the method embodying the invention.

In FIG. 5B, relating to the TDMA reservation protocol, the earth station ST_(i) only transmits a reservation message MR_(i) subsequent to complete storing of the burst according to the "store and forward" mechanism.

This reservation message MR_(i) received by the central station SC after a transmission delay 2T_(t) is only processed by the latter after a waiting time Ta corresponding to a processing time of reservation message MR_(i) stored in a queue of the resource allocation device of the central station SC. The allocation of resources by the central station SC corresponds to the allocation of a time interval IT_(i) in the data sub-frame STD_(i) in the earth station ST_(i) as a function of a burst length information included in the reservation message MR_(i) and precedes transmission of the burst from the earth station during a time (t"_(f) -t"_(i)).

In FIG. 5C, relating to the method embodying the invention, an allocation request message MD_(i) is transmitted by the earth station ST_(i) to the central station SC subsequent to a beginning of detection of a burst after detection of a signalling time interval ITS_(j). As will be seen further on a bit rate D_(max) ^(i) is then attributed to the earth station ST_(i) by the central station SC, also after a waiting time Ta. Nevertheless, as the message MD_(i) is transmitted immediately upon reception of a first cell of the burst by the earth station ST_(i), the gains in transmission time, especially for bursts of long duration, are considerable.

In reference to FIG. 6 which summarizes the traffic load capacity attributions in the satellite channel, one part of the total capacity C_(t) of the satellite channel is attributed to the signalling sub-frame STS, whereas two other parts are respectively attributed to the continuous connections and to the sporadic connections set up between earth stations of beams A and B and are included in the data sub-frame STD. The useful part attributed to these sporadic connections is very variable, whereas the part attributed to the continuous connections, i.e. having constant bit rates, varies more slowly. In fact, the time interval IT_(i) allocated to a continuous connection subsequent to a single connection and allocation request has a constant length and is periodic.

The first part of the description showing the principle of the method embodying the invention by comparison with the TDMA-reservation protocol clearly establishes that any resource allocation requests for each burst transmitted by an earth station ST_(i) must be satisfied as no information concerning the capacity required for a received burst is transmitted during an allocation request. In that case, no connection for a transmission of bursts can be accepted without a risk of overloading of the network and slumping of the performances of the network. It is then necessary to establish an algorithm for elaborating refusal/acceptance of the connections or communications. This algorithm will now be presented in the second part of the description.

From the point of view of sporadic traffic, it will be supposed that at a given instant, I earth station ST₁ to ST_(I) of the beam have each set up a connection COM₁ to COM_(I), though in practice an earth station sets up several connections respectively for plural terminals of a user station which is connected to it. The configuration of the network is entirely defined by I groups of three parameters respectively relating to the I connections COM₁ to COM_(I) set up between beams A and B and by a global parameter of the network which is the total available capacity attributed to the bursty connections C_(S). The three respective parameters relating to each COM_(i) of the connections set up are:

the average length Lm_(i) of the bursts respectively generated by the earth station ST_(i) during a connection, the length being expressed in number of cells,

the sporadicness SP_(i) of the bursts of the connection, and

the load ratio RA_(i) between the available capacity C_(S) and the available bit rate D_(max) ^(i) generated by each station, the capacity being expressed in bit/s.

All the curves presented in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 have been obtained by simulating the behaviour of an integrated services digital satellite network using the asynchronous time-division technique (ATM). The simulation tool is a computer programmed in SIMSCRIPT language. It is notably presupposed in the simulation carried out that the signalling sub-frame STS represents at least 5% of the total frame of duration 30 ms and that the ground-satellite-ground transmission delay is 300 ms. The performances of the resource network using the resource allocation mode characterizing the invention and presented in the first part of the description, are measured in terms of delay (in seconds) between the beginning of reception of a burst in a given earth station and the retransmission of the received burst to any station of beam B. In this study, the three previously defined parameters characterizing connections respectively set up between the different earth stations ST_(i) of beam A and stations of beam B are presumed to be identical; this is a homogeneous connection configuration. Thus, the "simulated" connections between the various stations are characterized by burst average lengths Lm, sporadicnesses SP and load ratios RA which are respectively identical. The action of each of the parameters on the performance of the network in terms of delay is thus studied.

In FIG. 7 is shown the influence of the average length Lm of the bursts, presupposed identical for each of the connections set up between the earth station ST_(i) of beam A and stations of beam B via the central station SC, on the transmission delay R₉₉ expressed in seconds. This transmission delay R₉₉ must be perceived as an average statistical result and more precisely must be analyzed as a 99% probability of obtaining a real delay lower than R₉₉.

In FIG. 7, the load ratio C_(S) /D_(max) is presupposed equal to 4, and different curves are represented for sporadicnesses respectively equal to 23, 45 and 90. For short bursts (less than 50 cells), an increase of the average length Lm of the bursts entails a decrease of the transmission delay R₉₉. This phenomenon is in accordance with the resource allocation principle embodying the invention. Indeed, for short bursts transmitted by the various earth stations ST_(i) during respective connections, the transmission delays of the end-of-storing messages MF_(i) transmitted to the central station SC and containing an information relating to the resource allocation duration for the resource allocation device in the central station SC are all the more important when the bursts are short. A part of the resources of the satellite channel is then attributed to an earth station during a relatively long period of time by comparison with an effective transmission of bursts. With the exception of this phenomenon, for bursts of over 50 cells, an increase of the average length of bursts entails an increase of the transmission delay R₉₉.

FIG. 8 illustrates the effects of the sporadicness of the connections set up between the various earth stations of the first beam A and the stations of beam B via the central station SC on the transmission delay R₉₉.

The curve shown in FIG. 8 was also obtained by simulating a homogeneous configuration in which the three parameters defining each connection are identical. It should be noted that an increase of the sporadicness of the connections entails an increase of the delay R₉₉.

FIG. 9 shows the effect of an increase of the load ratio C_(S) /D_(max) on the transmission delay R₉₉. The performance of the method embodying the invention is improved when the capacity available C_(S) for the sporadic connections C_(S) increases in relation to the maximum bit rate D_(max) ^(i) of the bursty connections.

Study of the performances of a "homogeneous" configuration such as described in reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 is too far removed from real operating conditions to conceive the final layout of the method embodying the invention within the framework of a "wide-band" integrated service digital network in which numerous digital services coexist and are characterized by connections that have not identical parameter values (Sporadic nature, Average length of bursts, Allocation ratio). A more general study is needed for the purposes of deducing a layout of a method for elaborating refusal or acceptance of a connection. The connections are studied in the context of heterogeneous connections coexisting in the network and characterized by parameters that can take on different values. The study of this heterogeneous configuration must not simultaneously deal with the three parameters characterizing the various connections set up between the earth stations of beam A and the stations of beam B. Each of the parameters must be studied separately in order to deduce the effect of heterogeneousness on each of these.

The possible values of the various parameters studied in this simulation concern the three above-mentioned parameters.

FIGS. 10 and 11 contribute respectively to the study of the effect of the heterogeneousness on two parameters, average length of the bursts Lm_(i) and sporadicness SP_(i), the two other respective parameters RA and SP, or Lm and RA being presupposed to be homogeneous.

FIG. 10 relates to a simulation of k connections respectively set up by the earth stations via the central station SC, k being e.g. equal to 50. In this simulation, it is presupposed that the connections between earth stations of beam A and stations of beam B are of two types, representative of respective digital telecommunication services. All the communications have a same sporadicness SP_(i) equal to 23 and a same allocation ratio RA_(i) =C_(S) /D^(i) _(max) equal to 4.

The "simulated" connections are only differentiated by different values, two in number, of their respective average burst length Lm_(i). The two possible values of the burst lengths are equal to 50 and 200 cells for the purposes of simplifying the simulation. The X-axis in FIG. 10 relates to an arithmetical average ##EQU1## of the lengths of bursts of the I respective connections. A first curve in continuous lines shows the transmission delay R₉₉ of the communications as a function of the arithmetical average <Lm_(i) > of the respective burst lengths of the k connections. The k connections are thus simulated with burst lengths equal to 50 and 200 cells, which corresponds to an arithmetical average varying between a minimum average for which all the connections are constituted of bursts equal to 50 cells and a maximum average for which all the connections are defined by burst lengths equal to 200 cells. A curve in broken lines is obtained by a simulation of k connections for which the average lengths of the respective bursts Lm_(i) are identical and equal to the average of the average lengths <Lm_(i) > of the bursts for the k connections in the heterogeneous model.

In FIG. 10, the two curves obtained for the two simulations are very close, which means that for the resource allocation method embodying the invention, k connections generating different burst lengths Lm_(i) are equivalent to k connections having identical burst length L_(eq) equal to the average of the different burst lengths Lm_(i). This corresponds to the following equation: ##EQU2##

FIG. 11 relates to a simulation of k connections respectively set up by k earth stations ST_(i) via the central station SC. For each "simulated" connection, the length of the generated bursts Lm_(i) is equal to 50 cells, and the load ration RA_(i) =C_(S) /D_(max) ^(i) is equal to 4.

Only the sporadicness values vary from one connection being set up to an other. For the purposes of simplifying the simulation, the number of possible sporadicness values is limited to two: 100 and 1,000. The X-axis of FIG. 11 relates to an arithmetical average of the sporadicness values <SP_(i) > of the k connections, and the Y-axis relates to the transmission delay R₉₉ in seconds.

A first curve in continuous lines shows the transmission delay R₉₉ of the connections as a function of the arithmetical average <SP_(i) > of the sporadicness values of the k connections, which varies between a minimum arithmetical average for which all the connections have sporadicness values equal to 100, and a maximum arithmetical average for which the sporadicness values of the k connections are equal to 1,000. A curve in broken lines is obtained by simulation of k homogeneous connections between earth stations ST_(i) of beam A and stations of beam B via the central station SC for which the respective sporadicness values are identical and equal to: ##EQU3##

According to FIG. 11, the two curves obtained for the two simulations are quasi-identical which means that according to the method, k connections having different sporadicness values SP_(i) are equivalent to k connections having sporadicness values equal to SP_(eq).

With regard to the third parameter, the load ration RA_(i) =C_(S) /D_(max) ^(i) can be determined by means of an equation of equivalence between k connections having different load ratios RA_(i) (heterogeneous configuration as regards load ratio) and k connections having equal load ratios (homogeneous configuration), noted RA_(eq). This equation has the following form:

    RA.sub.eq =F(RA.sub.i for the ex-connections COM.sub.i in process) (eq.3)

The previous equations (eq.1), (eq.2) and (eq.3) respectively deduced from studies of the three parameters, burst length, sporadicness and load ratio, enable to design a load controlling algorithm for the final layout of the method embodying the invention, based on the characteristics of equivalence between homogeneous configuration of connections and heterogeneous configuration of connections, and establishing the elaboration of a refusal or of an acceptance of a connection.

It has been seen previously that a connection set up by any one of the earth stations ST_(i) is defined by three parameters, i.e., the length of the generated bursts Lm_(i), the sporadicness SP_(i) and the load ratio RA_(i) =C_(S) /D_(max) ^(i). For a k^(th) connection request DC_(i) from any one of the earth stations ST_(i) is defined a variable called "total required minimum capacity" CMR_(TOT) which enables evaluation of whether said connection request DC_(i) should be accepted or refused by the central station SC. A value a the variable CMR_(TOT) for the k^(th) connection depends on the three respective parameters of the (k-1) connections already set up as well as the three parameters of the k^(th) connection. This corresponds to the equation:

    CMR.sub.TOT =F(Lm.sub.1, . . . Lm.sub.k ; . . . , SP.sub.1, . . . SP.sub.k ; C.sub.S /D.sub.max.sup.l, . . . C.sub.S /D.sub.max.sup.k)

in which the parameters in brackets designate the three parameters for the k connections being set up or to be set up by the randomly selected earth stations.

The equivalence considerations deduced from the equations (eq.1) and (eq.2) enable the previous equation to be written in the form of:

    CMR.sub.TOT =g(L.sub.eq, SP.sub.eq, C.sub.S /D.sub.max.sup.l . . . C.sub.S /D.sub.max.sup.k)

Average statistical data establish that the equivalent values L_(eq) and SP_(eq) are respectively always below upper limits L_(sup) and SP_(sup), these limits being always greater than the average length Lm_(i) and sporadicnesses SP_(i) irrespective of the configuration of the network traffic.

The equation is thus expressed

    CMR.sub.TOT =g(L.sub.sup, SP.sub.sup, C.sub.S /D.sub.max.sup.l, . . . C.sub.S /D.sub.max.sup.k)

The values L_(sup) and SP_(sup) being constant by hypothesis, the equation can be further simplified in the form of:

    CMR.sub.TOT =h(C.sub.S /D.sub.max.sup.l, . . . C.sub.S /D.sub.max.sup.k)

The equivalence property between heterogeneous configuration as regards load ratio and homogeneous configuration as regards load ratio RA_(i) =C_(S) D_(max) ^(i), mathematically represented by the equation (eq.3), contributes to simplifying function h determining the total required minimum capacity CMR_(TOT) given above.

According to the equation (eq.3), k connections having different load ratios RA₁ =C_(S) /D_(max) ^(l) to RA_(k) =C_(S) /D_(max) ^(k) are equivalent to k connections having identical load ratios which are equal to RA_(eq).

To establish the relation between the load ratio RA_(eq) and the total minimum capacity required CMR_(TOT), the burst lengths and burstinesses are presupposed constant and respectively equal to L_(sup) and SP_(sup). This relation is obtained as described above.

Only the parameters D_(max) ^(k) and D_(moy) ^(k) must be supplied in a connection request message DC_(k) for a k^(th) given connection to be set up COM_(k) by any one of the earth stations. For the k^(th) connection to be set up, the equation (eq.3) is used, and the equivalent values of the sporadicnesses and average burst lengths of the connections are presupposed respectively equal to SP_(eq) and L_(eq) so as to deduce, as a function of the maximum bit rates of the (k-1) connections in process and the new k^(th) connection to be set up, an equivalent load ratio RA_(eq) for the k connections. Working from this result, the algorithm embodying the invention presented hereinafter provides computation of a sum SOM of the average bit rates D_(moy) ^(i) of the connections included in the k respective connection requests DC_(i). The equivalent load ratio RA_(eq) (homogeneous configuration as regards load ratio) is then multiplied by the sum of the average bit rates ##EQU4## so as to obtain the total minimum capacity required CMR_(TOT). The k^(th) given connection is accepted if this total required minimum capacity CMR_(TOT) is lower than the total capacity available for sporadic connections C_(S), otherwise it is refused.

The algorithm for laying out the method embodying the invention will now be presented more precisely in reference to FIG. 12.

A connection acceptance/refusal elaborating automaton in the central station SC recognizes a connection request DC_(k) for a given k^(th) connection of a sporadic nature in the process of being set up. This automaton then uses the maximum bit rate D_(max) ^(k) included in the connection request DC_(k) and the maximum bit rates of the connections in process previously stored for deriving an equivalent load ratio RA_(eq) relating to all connections, in compliance with the equation (eq.3).

The automaton then calculates the sum of the average bit rate D_(moy) ^(k) transmitted in the connection request DC_(k) and previously stored average bit rates of the (k-1) connections in process so as to obtain SOM.

The obtained sum SOM is multiplied by the equivalent load ratio RA_(eq). The result of the multiplication CMR_(TOT) is compared with the total capacity available for the sporadic connections C_(S). The connection is accepted only if this capacity C_(S) is greater than the total minimum capacity required CMR_(TOT).

In the case of a connection of a continuous nature, the capacity required for the latter dynamically influences the available capacity C_(S) relating to connections of a bursty nature.

According to the algorithm, on the right-hand side in FIG. 12, for a new given request for connexion of a continuous nature at bit rate D to be set up, a new available capacity relating to the sporadic connections C'_(S) is deducted by subtraction of bit rate D from the available capacity C_(S) prior to the request for the given new connection. The total minimum capacity required CMR_(TOT) for bursty communications set up is calculated as previously and compared with the new available capacity C'_(S). If this new capacity C'_(S) is greater than the capacity CMR_(TOT), the connexion is accepted, otherwise it is refused. In this way, in the case of a request for connection of a continuous nature, the connection is accepted if the latter does not affect the total capacity required for the sporadic connections in process, in such a way that the latter are not interrupted.

A diagram of the refusal/acceptance elaborating automaton for a connection in the central station SC for a layout of the above mentioned algorithm is shown in FIG. 13. The circuit comprises a microprocessor 130, a program ROM memory 131, a memory 132 for the maximum bit rates D_(max) ^(i) of the connections in process, a memory 133 for the average bit rates D_(moy) ^(i) of the connections in process, a FIFO queue 134, a receiving circuit 135 and an emitting circuit 136. The program memory 131 stores a program in low-level language corresponding to the algorithm shown in FIG. 12.

The memories 131, 132, 133 and 134, and the microprocessor 130 are connected by means of an address bus BA and a data bus BD.

The signalling sub-frame STS_(r) carrying the connection request messages DC_(i) retransmitted into an echo channel towards the beam A is received and decoded by the receiving circuit 135 for application to the microprocessor 130. The receiving circuit 135 notably carries out demodulation, decoding and synchronization functions. When a connection is accepted, subsequent to a computation carried out by the microprocessor according to the algorithm presented in FIG. 12 notably by reading the maximum bit rates in the memory 132 for deriving an equivalent load ratio RA_(eq) and by reading the average bit rates in the memory 133 for calculating the total required minimum capacity CMR_(TOT) from RA_(eq), the resource allocation device as presented in the first part of the description is used for each burst of this connection, without being affected by the other connection requests in process. 

What we claim is:
 1. In a satellite asynchronous time-division telecommunication network, a method for allocating resources to earth stations by a central station, said earth stations receiving bursts of data cells transmitted by user stations during respective sporadic connections after set-up of said connections, said sporadic connections being defined by respective average lengths of bursts being transmitted, sporadicnesses and maximum bit rates, said method comprising the following steps:in said central station, deciding between an acceptance and a refusal of a request for a sporadic connection to be set up, said request being transmitted in the form of a request message for sporadic connection in a signalling sub-frame of a time-division multiple access periodic frame from one of the earth stations to said central station, said decision being determined as a function of an algorithm in which said average lengths of bursts and sporadicnesses are considered as predetermined constants and which depends on maximum bit rates and average bit rates of sporadic connections in process and said to-be-set-up sporadic connection, a maximum bit rate and an average bit rate relating to said to-be-set-up sporadic connection being included in said request message for sporadic connection, subsequent to an acceptance of said to-be-set-up sporadic connection thereby defining a sporadic connection being set up, transmitting a resource allocation request message in said signalling sub-frame from said one of the earth stations to said central station in response to the beginning of reception and storing in said one of the earth stations each one of the bursts of said sporadic connection being set up which are transmitted by a user station connected to said one of the earth stations, in said central station, anticipatory reserving a resource in the form of a time interval in a data sub-frame of said time-division multiple access periodic frame, for said each one of the bursts as soon as a time interval of said data sub-frame is released so that said one of the earth stations can begin transmitting said each one of the bursts while continuing to store said each one of the bursts, and after said one of the earth stations has completely received said each one of the bursts, transmitting an end message in said signalling sub-frame from said one of the earth stations to said central station, said message including a length indication of said each one of the bursts, thereby releasing said resource allocated to said each one of the bursts when the whole of said each one of the bursts has been transmitted by said one of the earth stations.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said algorithm comprises the steps of, for said request for a to-be-set-up sporadic connectioncomputing an equivalent load ratio for said sporadic connections and for said to-be-set-up connection as a function notably of said predetermined constants and said maximum bit rates of said sporadic connections, computing a sum of said average bit rates of said sporadic connections, computing a product of said sum by said equivalent load ratio, and accepting said request for a to-be-set-up sporadic connection when said product is lower than a total capacity available for sporadic connections.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein connections with constant bit rate are set up by said earth stations via said network, and said algorithm for a constant bit rate connection request comprises the steps of substracting a sum of constant bit rates of said constant bit rate connections and said constant bit rate of said constant bit rate connection request from a total available capacity thereby forming a second capacity available for said sporadic connections, and accepting said constant bit rate connection request when said product is lower than said second available capacity.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined constants are equal to respective upper limits of said average lengths of bursts and said sporadicnesses. 